Golf flags are among the most sought-after modern golf collectibles, but the Holy Grail of golf flags isn't really a golf flag at all - it's the Merion Wicker Basket Standard. Merion Golf Club famously goes to extreme measures to make sure that its wicker standards never leave the club, though several have clearly made its way into the collector market over the years.

This Merion Wicker Basket dates to the 1990s. This is an “orange” wicker standard which is used on the Merion Golf Club (East) back nine. The wickers on the front nine are Toro red, and the back 9 are Jacobsen orange. This may be only the 2nd back 9 Jacobsen orange wicker from Merion that has ever reached the auction block. 

This original Merion Wicker Basket on original flagstick stands nearly 8' feet tall. The flagstick is tapered at the bottom. 

This Merion wicker standard comes from a former Merion employee. Many years ago, he was allowed to keep a broken wicker standard, and then was able to restore it to its current glory with the help of the woman who used to create the wicker baskets by hand for Merion.